Cytochrome P450 induction by rifampicin in healthy subjects: determination using the Karolinska cocktail and the endogenous CYP3A4 marker 4beta-hydroxycholesterol.

The Karolinska cocktail, comprising caffeine, losartan, omeprazole, and quinine, was given before and after administration of rifampicin (20, 100, or 500 mg daily) to measure induction of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. Rifampicin was given for 14 days to eight healthy subjects (all of whom possessed at least one wild-type CYP2C9 and one wild-type CYP2C19 gene) in each dose group. 4beta-hydroxycholesterol was assessed as an endogenous marker of CYP3A4 induction. A fourfold induction of CYP3A4 was seen at the highest dose by both quinine:3'-hydroxyquinine and 4beta-hydroxycholesterol measurements (P < 0.001). CYP3A4 was also induced at the two lower doses of rifampicin when measured by these two markers (P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 were induced after 500 mg rifampicin daily (1.2-fold, P < 0.05; 1.4-fold, P < 0.05; and 4.2-fold, P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, we have shown that the Karolinska cocktail and 4beta-hydroxycholesterol can be used for an initial screening of the induction properties of a drug candidate.

Dose finding study of mosapride in functional dyspepsia: a placebo-controlled, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Prokinetic agents have shown variable efficacy in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Mosapride is a new prokinetic 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 agonistic agent. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of three dosage regimens of mosapride compared with placebo in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with placebo or mosapride (5 mg b.d., 10 mg b.d. or 7.5 mg t.d.s.) in a double-blind, prospective, multicentre, multinational study. The change in symptom severity score from an untreated baseline week to the sixth week of treatment was used to compare treatment efficacy. RESULTS: There were 141, 140, 143 and 142 patients valid for evaluation in the intention-to-treat population in the placebo, mosapride 5 mg b.d., mosapride 10 mg b.d. and mosapride 7.5 mg t.d.s. groups, respectively. The mean changes in the overall dyspeptic symptom score were - 0.90, - 0.94, - 0.88 and - 0.89, respectively, and the proportions of patients feeling better at the end of the treatment period were 60%, 59%, 59% and 61%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of functional dyspepsia with mosapride was not superior to placebo. The result raises the question of whether treatment with prokinetic agents is appropriate for functional dyspepsia.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of esomeprazole, the S-isomer of omeprazole.

BACKGROUND: Esomeprazole, the S-isomer of omeprazole, is the first proton pump inhibitor developed as a single isomer for the treatment of acid-related diseases. AIM: To examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of esomeprazole. METHODS: In a crossover study, 12 healthy males received 5, 10 or 20 mg of esomeprazole, or 20 mg of omeprazole, once daily over 5 days. The pharmacokinetics and effects on pentagastrin-stimulated peak acid output of esomeprazole and omeprazole were studied on days 1 and 5. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) of both esomeprazole and omeprazole increased from day 1 to day 5. The correlation between acid inhibition and AUC for esomeprazole could be well described with a sigmoid Emax model. The mean inhibition values of the pentagastrin-stimulated peak acid output on day 1 for 5, 10 and 20 mg of esomeprazole were 15%, 29% and 46%, respectively; the corresponding day 5 values were 28%, 62% and 90%. The mean inhibition values of the pentagastrin-stimulated peak acid output for omeprazole were 35% (day 1) to 79% (day 5). CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetics of esomeprazole are time and dose dependent. There was a good correlation between AUC and effect for esomeprazole. These data suggest an increased acid inhibitory effect of esomeprazole compared to omeprazole.

Pharmacokinetics of esomeprazole after oral and intravenous administration of single and repeated doses to healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics of esomeprazole, one of the optical isomers of omeprazole, after 20 mg or 40 mg single and repeated oral and intravenous administration to healthy subjects. The main metabolites of esomeprazole were also assessed after the 40-mg oral dose. METHODS: In two separate studies, 16 healthy male subjects and 16 healthy male and female subjects received intravenous doses of 20 mg and 40 mg esomeprazole, respectively, on the first investigation day. After a washout period of 5-14 days, the same doses (20 mg as a solution and 40 mg as a capsule) were given orally for 5 days and then again intravenously on day 6. Blood samples for determination of esomeprazole and its metabolites were collected 12 h or 24 h post-dose and were analysed using normal-phase liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters of esomeprazole and its metabolites were estimated using non-compartmental analysis. Geometric means and ratios of the geometric means together with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Plasma clearance (CL) of esomeprazole decreased from 22 l/h to 16 l/h and from 17 l/h to 9 l/h following repeated dosing of 20 mg and 40 mg, respectively. Total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) increased (from 1.34 micromol x h/l to 2.55 micromol x h/l) with absolute bioavailability (F) being 50% on day 1 and 68% on day 5 after the 20-mg oral dose. AUC increased (from 4.32 micromol x h/l to 11.21 micromol x h/l) with F being 64% on day 1 and 89% on day 5 after the 40-mg oral dose. The plasma levels for esomeprazole sulphone were substantially higher on day 5 than on day 1, while those for 5-hydroxy esomeprazole were marginally higher on day 5 than on day 1 following repeated oral dosing of 40 mg esomeprazole. No side effects attributable to esomeprazole were noticed. CONCLUSION: The increased AUC of esomeprazole with repeated dosing is probably due to a combination of a decreased first-pass elimination and a decreased systemic clearance.

Lack of drug-drug interaction between three different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and omeprazole.

OBJECTIVE: To study, in three separate investigations, the potential interaction between omeprazole and three different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; diclofenac, naproxen and piroxicam) in healthy male and female subjects. METHODS: Each investigation was an open, randomized, three-way cross-over study, in which the subjects were given omeprazole 20 mg once daily for 1 week, the NSAID in therapeutic daily doses (diclofenac 50 mg bid, naproxen 250 mg bid, or piroxicam 10 mg om), or a combination of omeprazole and each NSAID. The plasma concentrations of the NSAID as well as of omeprazole were determined on the last day of each investigation period. RESULTS: None of the NSAIDs studied had any effect on the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of omeprazole. It was also demonstrated that omeprazole 20 mg daily had no significant influence on the pharmacokinetics of the NSAIDs. The AUC ratio, (NSAID +omeprazole):NSAID alone, was 1.11, 0.99, and 0.99 for diclofenac, naproxen, and piroxicam, respectively. CONCLUSION: Diclofenac, naproxen, and piroxicam can be administered together with omeprazole 20 mg daily without need for dosage alteration. There was no significant change in the bioavailability of theses NSAIDs during omeprazole therapy in this study.

Metabolism and excretion of ropivacaine in humans.

The pharmacokinetics, biotransformation, and urinary excretion of ropivacaine (Naropin), a new local anesthetic agent, have been studied in six healthy male volunteers after a 15-min iv infusion of 152 mumol (50 mg) of [14C]ropivacaine, with a specific radioactivity of 22.5 kBq/mumol (8.8 kBq/mg). Blood, urine, and feces were collected for up to 96 hr after administration. The plasma and urine samples were analyzed for unchanged ropivacaine and for four of its metabolites, i.e. 3-OH-2',6'-pipecoloxylidide (3-OH-PPX), 4-OH-ropivacaine, 3-OH-ropivacaine, and the N-dealkylated metabolite PPX, using GC and HPLC methods. The presence of 2,6-xylidine in plasma was also analyzed. The metabolites were quantified after acidic hydrolysis. The radioactivity could be followed in plasma for up to 14 hr after administration, with ropivacaine being the predominant compound in the early samples. The concentrations of the aforementioned metabolites in plasma were below or just above the lower limit of quantification, and no 2,6-xylidine was detected. The maximum plasma concentration of ropivacaine was 5.9 +/- 2.6 microM (1.6 +/- 0.7 mg/liter), with an elimination half-life of 2.0 +/- 0.3 hr and a total plasma clearance of 397 +/- 127 ml/min. The maximum plasma concentration value for the total radioactivity was 5.5 +/- 2.4 microM (1.5 +/- 0.7 mg/liter) and the elimination half-life was 5.4 +/- 2.9 hr. [14C]Ropivacaine and its metabolites were mainly excreted in the urine, with a total recovery of 86 +/- 3% in the urine and 9 +/- 1% in the feces after 96 hr. Most of the radioactivity (about 68%) was excreted within 12 hr. Ropivacaine was extensively metabolized, and only 1 +/- 0.6% of the dose was excreted unchanged in the urine. The major metabolite identified in the urine was conjugated 3-OH-ropivacaine, which was excreted to an extent of 37 +/- 3% of the dose. The urinary excretion of 4-OH-ropivacaine was < 1%, whereas the N-dealkylated metabolites PPX and 3-OH-PPX accounted for 2 and 3% of the dose, respectively. An additional hydroxylated metabolite, 2-OH-methyl-ropivacaine, was tentatively identified in the urine of some volunteers, accounting for about 4-15% of the dose.

Pharmacokinetics of levodopa and carbidopa in rats following different routes of administration.

This study examined the pharmacokinetics of levodopa and carbidopa in the rat after different modes of administration. The drugs were given simultaneously by the intravenous, intraarterial, oral, duodenal, and intraperitoneal routes, as single doses. The ratio of levodopa to carbidopa given was always 4:1. Two iv doses (5 and 15 mg/kg of levodopa) were given to test for nonlinearity. Three ip doses of levodopa were given (5, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg), and the 15 mg/kg dose was given in three volumes (2, 4, and 20 mL/kg). One oral dose and two intraduodenal doses of 15 mg/kg were given. The drugs were dissolved in saline in one of the intraduodenal doses and suspended in 1.8% methylcellulose in the other. The elimination of levodopa was nonlinear. There was a comparatively high degree of interindividual variability in absorption with the oral route, but this was substantially reduced when levodopa was given intraduodenally. There was also much less variability with the intraperitoneal route compared to the oral, and the degree of absorption was generally high. There was a significantly higher extent and slower rate of absorption when levodopa was administered ip in a large volume of vehicle. These results suggest that the oral route may not be the optimal method of delivering levodopa to patients who have a fluctuating response and that a continuous delivery system via the intraperitoneal or intraduodenal routes might be a better alternative.

Intraduodenal infusion of a water-based levodopa dispersion for optimisation of the therapeutic effect in severe Parkinson's disease.

Motor performance of five patients with advanced Parkinson's disease was investigated during their optimum oral therapy (conventional tablets and/or depot capsules) and during a continuous duodenal infusion of levodopa. Due to the low water solubility of the drug, conventional tablets of levodopa+carbidopa (Sinemet) were milled and dispersed in a 1.8% aqueous methylcellulose solution. The dispersion was delivered nasoduodenally by a portable pump. The effect of levodopa in the two dosing regimens was estimated optico-electronically every 15 min and was also evaluated from videorecordings every 30 min and plasma levels of levodopa was regularly measured. Each dosage regimen the was studied twice, at a 2-4 day interval. Duodenal infusion improved motor function in all five patients and the fluctuations were reduced when compared to the oral therapy. Variation in plasma levodopa concentrations was 3-10 fold during oral therapy, while during the infusion a stable concentration was obtained. The therapeutic concentration varied from 0.3-3 ml-1 between patients. The relative bioavailability of levodopa in the solid preparation compared to the dispersion was in all patients 100%. Our results encourage further development of a duodenal infusion system with a levodopa dispersion for clinical use in parkinsonian patients who show severe fluctuation.

Cerebral uptake and utilization of therapeutic [beta-11C]-L-DOPA in Parkinson's disease measured by positron emission tomography. Relations to motor response.

Cerebral uptake and utilization of levodopa was measured in eight patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) by [beta-11C]-L-DOPA and positron emission tomography (PET). By adding pharmacological doses of unlabelled levodopa to the radioactive solution it was possible to evaluate the clinical effect simultaneously with the cerebral kinetics of the drug. Additionally, in two of the patients with advanced PD, investigations with the dopamine re-uptake blocker [11C]-(+)-nomifensine and PET were carried out to get a measure of the density of striatal dopaminergic nerve-terminals. The brain uptake of [beta-11C]-L-DOPA was inversely correlated to the sum of large neutral amino acids in plasma. In the eight PD patients studied with [beta-11C]-L-DOPA striatal k3, which reflects the ability for striatal tissue to decarboxylate the tracer by the action of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), was decreased 35% compared to healthy subjects. It was demonstrated that, in the patients with advanced PD and motor fluctuations on oral L-DOPA medication, reversal of parkinsonian symptoms occurred at very low striatal tissue dopamine concentrations. In the two very advanced patients studied with [11C]-(+)-nomifensine the striatal binding of the tracer was 50% reduced.

Effects of apomorphine on heart rate during simultaneous administration of sulpiride: a challenge of the composed concentration-effect model.

Apomorphine elicits opposite concentration-dependent effects on the heart rate in rat bradycardia at low concentrations and tachycardia at higher ones. This has been modeled with a composed sigmoid Emax equation. To challenge this model, a selective antagonist, sulpiride, was administered simultaneously with apomorphine. Four short intravenous infusions of apomorphine, at different rates, were administered to rats, while a steady state concentration of sulpiride was maintained by intravenous infusion. Another group of rats was infused with apomorphine at the same rates of infusion as in the above groups, together with saline. In this latter group a biphasic concentration-response relationship was observed, while in the group receiving sulpiride and apomorphine no bradycardia was detected. A sigmoid Emax model with one term describing bradycardia and one tachycardia was used for the saline plus apomorphine data. For the sulpiride plus apomorphine data a single-term sigmoid Emax model was used. The maximal induced tachycardia was found to be the same in both groups. The tachycardia occurred at lower concentrations in the sulpiride group, probably as a result of an antagonist-induced shift of the bradycardia towards higher concentrations. The obtained results show that a composite concentration-effect curve of apomorphine has experimental validity and that it is possible to separate its pharmacodynamic characteristics on heart rate into its components, bradycardia and tachycardia, by sulpiride.

Altered pharmacokinetics and dynamics of apomorphine in the malnourished rat: modeling of the composed relationship between concentration and heart-rate response.

The impact of malnutrition on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (change in heart rate) of apomorphine was studied in the rat. One group of rats received a low-protein diet (0.5%) ad libitum to produce prekwashiorkor. The control group received commercial food pellets. In the first experiment, the two groups received a 2 mg/kg iv bolus dose of apomorphine to determine any differences in the basic pharmacokinetic parameters. The pharmacodynamic characteristics in each group were studied at different steady-state plasma levels, achieved by iv infusions with continuous measurements of the heart rate. There was an almost twofold decrease in the plasma clearance in the malnourished rats compared with controls. A pronounced change in the pharmacodynamic response was also observed in the malnourished group. In the control group, apomorphine produced bradycardia at low concentrations and tachycardia at high concentrations, while only bradycardia was registered in the malnourished group, with maximum effects at steady-state plasma concentrations of 50 ng/ml and a return to baseline at higher concentrations. The effects in control and malnourished rats were fitted simultaneously to the sum of two Hill equations with a nonlinear regression program, and the fits were compared by means of an F test. The maximum pure tachycardia obtainable differed significantly in the prekwashiorkor group compared to the control group. These results suggest a selective down regulation/desensitization only of the receptors responsible for the tachycardia produced by apomorphine during malnutrition.

Pharmacokinetics and effects of levodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease.

Five patients with severe Parkinson's disease were characterized with respect to their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to levodopa given: orally, intravenously (three different infusion rates) and intraduodenally. The best therapeutic infusion rate in the intravenous study was used for the intraduodenal infusion of levodopa. A lag time between plasma concentration and effect following oral administration was seen in three of the five patients and this disequilibrium was estimated as the rate constant Ke0 using model-independent analysis. The plasma concentration-effect relationship was similar for the three modes of administration and in all patients the therapeutic plasma concentration for full mobility was greater than 4-5 micrograms.ml-1. The disequilibrium half-life for development of effect after oral administration was calculated to be about 30 min. The patients remained clinically stable during the period of the intraduodenal infusion.